ABOUT IMAGEWERKS
Let me introduce myself… I’m Kathy Strauss and I’ve been in the creative industry for over 40 years. Calling myself a Creationeer, I see the world like no other. I love putting my artistic eye and imagination together to create inspired works that come from my heart. You know me as a photographer, an artist, and creative coach. Using my creative voice with my camera, I use it to tell stories for personal branding, commercial clients, and families. Fine art is my “release”, using my camera to show the world how I sees it. And I am also a mixed media artist—painting, doodling, writing… all activities that allow me to tap into the universal energy that surrounds us. And as a creative coach—when I'm not doing photography or creating a new piece of art, you’ll find me teaching.
What Do I Do?
Photography. My photography specialties are personal branding, headshot portraits, marketing, event imagery, family photos, and fine art photography. People know I'm an artist at heart, seeing the bigger picture and that comes out in all the work I do. When approached by a client, I tell them that my aim is to tell their story visually—that my photos must connect to their viewers/clients. My commercial clients have custom visual libraries created for them, so they don’t have to go to a stock photography site for their marketing imagery. To me, family photography is just as important as business branding. As a visual storyteller, it’s all about creating memories and telling their story. All family sessions are filled with laughter and creativity. My clients always remember what they were doing, how they were laughing, joking, or even crying when they look at the final images.
Creative Coach. When asked why is creative activity important, I will share that “it’s been proven that by introducing creative activity into your life, it can help improve your thinking and help you relax. But the real reason—it’s just plain fun!” As a Creatively Fittm coach, I love sharing my artist’s view of life. I do this through workshops or talks where people can learn how to tap into their innate creativity and enthusiasm for life.
Fine Artist and Writer. If you ask me what sets me apart from other creatives is that I'm an artist first—a photographer second. Everything I do has an artistic twist to it, with my artistic philosophy driving everything I do. It’s what sets me apart from others, seeing the bigger picture, tapping into their joy, telling their story, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Through my artistic point of use, I capture memories and create meaningful visual stories—my fine art taps into the universal energy that surrounds us, and through words I share my artist’s view of life. Most of all, I teach that creativity is everyone’s super-power. I have published and illustrated numerous coloring books (“Coloring Your Spirit: designs & meditations to spark the creative in all of us”, “52 Weeks of Gratitude: 52 positive words that can change your life & the way you think”, and “Positive Spirit: an intentional & mindful journey through coloring & journaling”). My more recent writing is as a collaborative author in “Ignite Your Faith” and “Health-a-Pedia: Putting the Pieces Together in Foundational Health”—both books went international bestseller in less than 24 hours. I am currently working on my solo book and several other writing projects.
I am a founding artist at the Workhouse Arts Center and former Pres. of the Arches Gallery Artists in Lorton, VA. I am currently an exhibiting artist at the Seacoast Artists Gallery, the Artists on 8th Ave in the William H. Miller Art Studio, and Kaleidoscope Artisan Collective—all in Myrtle Beach, SC. In addition, I volunteer my time as a Board member for the Seacoast Artists Guild and am a Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador. I am a graduate of both Leadership Grand Strand Class 42 and Leadership Prince William Class 2010.
No matter what I am doing, you will always know that I am passionate about the arts and contributing to the community I live in.
Artistic Philosophy & Statement
Creativity has always been an outlet for me, feeling, seeing and sensing. It is these three things that drive me. I share with those who will listen that sharing and story are important to the human race—it’s through my photography, mixed media, or word, using my design background—I have learned to craft pieces with energy that allow the viewer to feel. I am a creationeer—I combine creativity and imagination to create pieces of art with heART.
We are the artists of our lives’…together each of our thoughts, words, and actions create a world that is better, colorful, and more beautiful each day.